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Sports

Sports Enthusiasts will Find Plenty to Cheer About in Lexington

From the race track to the basketball court and the gridiron
to the golf course, competition is king in Lexington. From decades-old
traditions like University of Kentucky college basketball and horse
racing, to recent additions such as professional baseball, the Lexington
sports scene is full of thrilling spectator events.

Here's how to get in on the action:

Join the Wildcat Hoopla

Lexington is home to one of the most venerable college
basketball traditions in the nation -the University of Kentucky
Wildcats.

the legacy of coaches such as
Adolph Rupp, one of college basketball's all-time winningest coaches,
and the flamboyant Rick Pitino, who left after the 1996-97 season to
coach the Boston Celtics; and

legions of passionate fans, for whom basketball is a way of life.

Under coach Tubby Smith, the championship tradition continued
with a seventh NCAA championship win in 1998. Head Coach John Calipari
added an eighth in 2012!

UK home basketball games have been sold out since the 1930s,
so even with 23,000 seats in Rupp Arena, getting tickets isn't easy.
Most of the seats are filled with season ticket holders. Any tickets
from the student allotment that go unsold (it happens with a few tickets
in about half of the 15 or so home games, according to UK) are made
available to the public through the UK Ticket Office, usually about two weeks before game date. Call the Ticket Office at (859) 257-1818 to check ticket availability.

Keep in mind that scalping is illegal in Kentucky, so proceed
with caution when dealing with folks offering tickets for sale outside
the arena on game days.

Bluegrass
Note: Basketball began at UK (then known as Kentucky State College)
with a women's team in 1902. A year later the first men's team was
organized. The first recorded men's game took place on February 6, 1903,
against nearby Georgetown College. Georgetown won, 15-6.

One UK basketball event the public has a good shot at attending is the team's first practice in mid-October. "Big Blue Madness"
is held at Rupp Arena, usually the first Friday night the NCAA allows
practice. The practice is accompanied by a variety of entertainment and
festivities. Admission is free but you do need a ticket. They are
available at the box office at Memorial Coliseum and through
TicketMaster (service charge applies). They do sell out. Some fans camp
out in front of Memorial Coliseum days in advance to make sure they get
one of the 23,000 seats.

Die-hard fans from around the country like to take a peek in
to the revered Rupp Arena. There's a viewing window near the Lexington
Center Offices. Call ahead: (859) 233-4567.

Bluegrass
Note: Credited with building the UK basketball dynasty is Adolph
Frederick Rupp, one of the most successful coaches and most colorful
personalities in college basketball history. Rupp, born in Kansas, was
UK coach from 1930 to 1972, leading the Wildcats to their first four
NCAA championships. His career record of 880 victories and 190 defeats
(a winning percentage of .822) makes him one of the winningest college
coaches of all time. Rupp died in 1977, and is buried in Lexington
Cemetery.

Any time of year, you can visit Memorial Coliseum.
Located on Euclid and Limestone on the UK campus, this was home court
for the Wildcats from 1950 until Rupp Arena opened in 1976. The halls
and upstairs office areas include a variety of trophies and other
memorabilia.

Don't forget that UK's isn't the only basketball tradition in the Bluegrass. Transylvania University in Lexington and nearby Georgetown College
are often strong contenders in their divisions. And many Kentuckians
would argue that the high school game in Kentucky is almost as sweet as
college ball. Lexington hosts the "Sweet 16" Boys State Tournament in
March.

Bluegrass
Note: Keeneland, organized by over 200 Bluegrass horse breeders and
turf enthusiasts, held its first race in October 1936. Actually,
construction of the track had begun several years earlier on private
property by John Oliver "Jack" Keene, who intended it as a private track
but ran out of money. The track is located on land granted to the Keene
family by Patrick Henry.

Horse Racing-Of Course!

Horse racing has been an important part of Lexington since the city's
earliest days, when Main Street itself served as the track. Now safely
confined to Keeneland Race Course for Thoroughbred racing, and Red Mile
Harness Track for trotting and pacing, horse racing remains one of
Lexington's most beloved and thrilling traditions.

Lexington is the center of the Thoroughbred breeding industry, and its Thoroughbred track, Keeneland Race Course,
4201 Versailles Road, is arguably the most picturesque and
tradition-laden track in the United States. With its lovely stone
buildings, beautifully landscaped grounds and refined atmosphere,
Keeneland strives to live up to its slogan of "racing as it was meant to
be."

Race meets are brief- three weeks in April and three weeks in October -
but attract the cream of the Thoroughbred world. The top horses,
trainers and riders come to Keeneland, and in its stands you'll often
find celebrities and royalty. Prior to 2007, Keeneland was the only U.S.
track ever visited by Queen Elizabeth II of England. Her Majesty
attended the 133rd Kentucky Derby in Louisville with her husband Prince
Philip, but they stayed in the Bluegrass.

Regular folks are just as welcome, however. Keeneland is one of few
tracks where you can visit the barn areas and have a good view of the
horses being saddled in the paddock area. The track is home to a number
of major stakes races, including the spring Blue Grass Stakes, a major
prep race for the Kentucky Derby. Visitors are welcome to watch morning
workouts and dine at the Track Kitchen, not just during race meets, but
year-round. For racing dates and more information, call (859) 254-3412
or (800) 254-3412.

Bluegrass
Note: The Lexington Polo Club plays its matches at the Kentucky Horse
Park on most Sunday afternoons in summer - a great excuse to take a
picnic or to tailgate. In the winter, matches are played at the indoor
arena, making Lexington one of the few places in the United States where
you can watch indoor polo.

There has been harness racing at The Red Mile Harness Track
since 1875, making it Lexington's oldest existing track and one of the
oldest in the United States. The track is located at 1200 Red Mile Road
(off South Broadway, just blocks from downtown).

Named for the clay soil of its track, The Red Mile is home to
Standardbred racing, in which horses race in distinct gaits, pulling
two-wheeled sulkies from which riders direct the action.

Live racing in the fall runs from August through early
October. The fall Grand Circuit Meet includes the Kentucky Futurity, the
third jewel in harness racing's Triple Crown. The track is open to
visitors year-round. Call ahead (859) 255-0752 for a current schedule.

There's often televised racing from other tracks at Keeneland
and Red Mile, with intertrack wagering. Call to see what's scheduled.

Bluegrass
Note: Lexington's first racetrack, the Kentucky Association track
opened in the 1830s near what is now 5th and Race streets in downtown.
Known as Chittlin' Switch, the track operated for over a century.
Tradition holds that at the track a woman hung her silk purse at the
finish line to be collected by the winner, thus giving rise to the term
"purse" for racing rewards.

Gridiron Cats

UK's sports teams were originally known as the Cadets, reflecting the
school's strong ROTC program. Commenting on a 6-2 football victory over
the University of Illinois on October 3, 1909, First Lieutenant Philip
Corbusier, commandant and professor of Military Science and Tactics at
UK, told an audience of students that the team had "fought like
wildcats." The press picked up on the term, and the team nickname was
born.

Although football plays second fiddle to basketball at the University of Kentucky, the UK Wildcats football program manages to attract quite a crowd to the 67,000 seat Commonwealth Stadium in the fall. Playing in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), which has claimed 4 of the past 6 BCS National Championships, America's best college football players are on display every Saturday in the South.

Exciting new features were added to Commonwealth Stadium during a renovation project, including a stunning exterior "facelift." Players, coaches, students and fans are all reaping the benefits of this $110-million reinvention.

As with basketball,
many seats go to season ticket-holders. You can find out about remaining
tickets for the six or so home games by calling the UK Athletic Ticket
Office at (859) 257-1818. If you do go, take advantage of Touchdown
Downtown. Park your car downtown and take the shuttle to the stadium.
It's only five dollars round trip.

Bluegrass
Note: UK was a national force in college football during the tenure of
Paul William "Bear" Bryant, coach from 1946 to 1954. He led the football
Wildcats to four bowl games, but resigned from UK because of conflicts
with basketball coach Adolp Rupp.

Lexington Legends

Lexington has always been home to horse racing legends; now the area
is home to a professional baseball club. The Lexington Legends, a
Proud Single A Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, play at beautiful Whitaker Bank Ball Park,
a $13.5 million stadium that puts fans closer to the action than any
other ballpark in the Minor Leagues. Besides great baseball, there always seems to be a special promotion to entice fans ranging from a 39 cent hot dog night to a beer stein give-a-way for adults. There is even a special night when you are encouraged to bring your favorite canine friend! Expect a fireworks show on Friday and Saturday nights. There's a kids' play area, complete with a playground. In addition to games April into
September, the ballpark hosts a variety of concerts and special events
throughout the year. For information call (859)252-4487.

Bluegrass
Note: Baseball in Lexington has a proud history. The Lexington
Hustlers, a Negro Baseball League team, started playing in 1947. Coach
John Will "Scoop" Brown accepted a young white man who had been rejected
by the all-white teams for being too small. By 1949, seven of the
nineteen team members were white, creating the first integrated baseball
team in the South.

Golf

Golf enthusiasts can test their skills on some championship-caliber courses in the Bluegrass.

Previously a stop on the PGA Senior Tour, Kearney Hill Links
(3403 Kearney Road; 859-253-1981) is a challenging course with plenty
of water and bunkers. This British-style course was designed by noted
course architects Pete and P.B. Dye. It has been named the top public
course in Kentucky and one of the top 100 in the nation.

Griffin Gate Marriott Resort& Spa
(1720 Newtown Pike; 859-288-6193), a semi-private course, has also
hosted professional competition. At these and other Lexington area
courses you'll enjoy exciting play in a scenic setting.

These are just two of the area's 20 or so courses. Weather
permitting, it is possible to hit the links year-round. Conveniently
located at the crossroads of Interstate 64 and 75, many avid golfers
head to Lexington for winter golf, attracted both by the great courses
and reduced winter rates.

As PGA veteran Gary Player put it after winning the 1993 PGA
Senior Classic in Lexington, "I've traveled more than any athlete that's
ever lived, and I've never seen a more beautiful part of the world than
here in Lexington."

Kentucky Bank Tennis Championships

If you follow tennis, you may already know that many of today's tennis stars first drew notice at this annual July event. Katarina Srebotnik, John Isner, James Blake, Tommy Haas, Lleyton Hewitt, Justin Gimmelstob and many others have played in this tournament held at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex on the University of Kentucky campus.
This Kentucky event is a $100,000 professional USTA tennis tournament with equal prize money for both men and women participants: one of only three tournaments in the world that holds this distinction.

Bluegrass State Games

Sports is integral to community life in the Bluegrass Region. Central
Kentucky's facilities, accessibility, mild climate, housing,
professional sports clubs, and athletes put the Region on par with any
major destination in the country.

Amateur sports are highlighted during the popular Bluegrass State
Games. Held each winter and summer, over 13,000 athletes of all ages
compete in more than 30 sports. The diversity of competition is
astounding: from hardcourt bike polo to table tennis and volleyball to
corn hole.

High Impact

Attended a roller derby bout lately? Yes, Lexington has a
women's flat track roller derby league: the Roller Girls of Central
Kentucky, aka "ROCK". The 25 member league was founded in 2007. Home
games, which often sell out, are held in Heritage Hall at Lexington's
convention center, downtown off Main Street. (859) 269-5686.

Headquartered at the Lexington Ice Center is the Lexington Amateur Ice Hockey Association. There are two leagues. They play year-round.The schedule can be found at www.laiha.com. Take note: they offer pickup games, in case you remember to pack your ice hockey gear!The schedule can be found at www.laiha.com.

For more information contact VisitLEX, theLexington Convention and Visitors Bureau, at (800) 845-3959.

By Teresa Day, a freelance writer based in Lexington, KY.
Updated and edited by Lu Ann Pelle, May 2016.

Interested in bringing a sporting event or
tournament to Lexington? Contact John Pohl of the Lexington Convention
and Visitors Burea at (800) 848-1224.